Top 10 Things We Want to See in Free Guy 2
#10: A Hard R Rating… (Or At Least A Harder PG-13 Rating)
Top 10 Die Hard Movie Moments
The foul-mouthed Wade Wilson may be his best role, but Ryan Reynolds has proven that he doesn’t need to swear a mile a minute to get a laugh. “Free Guy” found a comfortable middle-ground between the R-rated “Deadpool” and the PG-rated “Detective Pikachu,” mixing humor for all ages with jokes for the older crowd. Still, there are times where the PG-13 rating holds the film back from getting an even bigger laugh. Being a Disney property that’s performed well with youngsters, we doubt “Free Guy 2” will take “The Suicide Squad” route. If an R rating isn’t in the realm of possibility, we hope the sequel pushes PG-13 to its limits. Maybe even something along the lines of an 80s PG before everything was safer.
#9: A Larger Role for Buddy
Top 10 Things Richard Jewell Got Factually Right and Wrong
Between “Space Jam: A New Legacy” and “Free Guy,” Lil Rel Howery appeared in two video game-related movies within the same summer. Even when given a supporting role, Howery never fails to steal the show. Buddy is another character who took us by surprise. In what could’ve been a throwaway best friend role, Howery not only brings the laughs, but also gives the character a heart. We’d love to see Buddy’s part expanded upon in the sequel. For our money, Mario is always better with Luigi and the same goes for Guy and Buddy. Outside of their bromance, the sequel can give Buddy his own arc. Maybe the security guard could become a TSA officer who sucks up ghosts in a haunted airport.
#8: Virtual Reality
Top 10 Virtual Reality Movie Moments
With one being an NPC and the other being a human gamer, Guy and Millie could only get so close in the first movie. With the advancements in virtual reality, Millie, Keys, and other characters can get into the game like never before. What if “Free Life” received a VR experience that’s so immersive that players never want to leave? This would build upon the first film’s themes of artificial intelligence and human intelligence, which are becoming more interchangeable with every technological advancement. Like “Ready Player One,” it could also provide commentary on escapism vs. reality. Is it better to lose yourself in a simulated world designed to your liking or adapt to the hardships of real life? We want to see “Free Guy’s” take.
#7: Guy in the Real World
Top 3 Things to Remember Before Seeing Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
While it’d be fun to see more of Millie in the gaming universe, imagine Guy and his fellow NPCs in our world. Although “Free City” resembles real life in some respects, there are many differences. Namely, people aren’t so nonchalant during a bank robbery and if you die, you don’t wake up in your bed the next day. What if Guy confronted an actual criminal or entered a life-threatening situation in a world with permanent consequences? It would also further blur the line between artificial life and natural life. We’re not sure how Guy would get an organic body, but we’re willing to accept some creative liberties in a franchise like this. It could be like that movie “Transcendence,” except not boring and forgettable.
#6: An In-Game Villain
Top 10 Worst Things That The Green Goblin has Done
Taika Waititi gave 150% as the villainous Antwan, and his return in the sequel certainly wouldn’t be unwelcomed. However, having Antwan as the big bad yet again would probably get repetitive. Since the antagonist in the first movie was a corrupt developer who sought to destroy Free City, the sequel could turn the tables. Maybe an NPC takes an evil turn and seeks to destroy the real world. Mix Dude’s brute strength with Antwan’s diabolical nature, resulting in a character who controls the digital and physical realms. As for who should play the villain, Dwayne Johnson already voiced a bank robber. The sequel can give Johnson a larger role… and a BFG! Or maybe Chris Evans will hunt Guy down to get his shield back.
#5: True Love For Guy
The Shocking True Story of American Nightmare
Like Theodore and Samantha in “Her,” we love Guy and Millie together, but it’s clear from the get-go that this romance can’t realistically work. At least Millie gets Keys and Guy has friendship. Nevertheless, Guy deserves to find a significant other to eat bubblegum ice cream and drink coffee with. If Guy romanced another NPC in the sequel, it’d pave the way for a lot of interesting questions. What if two AIs fell in love without being programmed to do so? What if their romance resulted in the conception of a child? Would that child also be an AI or would they be something entirely different? Any number of stars can play Guy’s love interest, although we’ve heard Reynolds has great chemistry with Blake Lively.
#4: Tron
Olivia Wilde Bio: From The O.C. To Tron Legacy
Several Disney properties popped up in “Free Guy,” including “Frozen,” “Star Wars,” and Marvel. So, where were video game-centric Disney IPs like “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Kingdom Hearts,” and especially “Tron?” We guess the filmmakers didn’t want to invite too many comparisons. After all, both movies center on programmers who go into a video game to prove that their work was plagiarized by somebody, developing close bonds with virtual characters along the way. Since Reynolds’ brand of comedy is so self-referential, though, it’d make sense to at least acknowledge “Tron” in the sequel. Also, Reynolds and Jeff Bridges aren’t the reasons why “RIPD” failed. The two deserve another shot at a buddy comedy. Plus, then you could have Dude meet The Dude.
#3: Video Game Cameos & Easter Eggs
Top 10 Video Game References in Sonic The Hedgehog 2
The two games that “Free Guy” draws the most inspiration from are “Fortnite” and “Grand Theft Auto.” “Portal,” “Mega Man,” and “Half-Life 2” are just some of the other games that are alluded to as well. With the first film opening above expectations, we hope Disney coughs up the extra bucks to get some big-name video game cameos in the sequel. If Wreck-It Ralph got to hang out with Sonic, Bowser, and Q*bert, so should Guy. Since Reynolds is reportedly in talks for Netflix’s “Dragon’s Lair” movie, maybe he could find a way to get Dirk the Daring in there. Or if Disney wants to avoid copyrighted characters, Guy could always face off against Shaquille O’Neal in a game of “Shaq Fu.”
#2: More Video Game Worlds
Top 10 Things Video Game Movies Always Mess Up
The first movie primarily satirized open-world and battle royale games. While the sequel could delve deeper into those genres, we’d rather see Guy and the filmmakers step out of their comfort zone. Instead of “Free Life” or “Free City,” the sequel could follow Guy through a variety of video game worlds. Guy can put his high jump to the test in a platformer, try to survive a first-person shooter without picking up a gun, and race across a chaotic track littered with banana peels. Speaking of racing games, let’s just hope that Guy doesn’t go Turbo. (Turbo Clip) No, not that Turbo. We meant… ah, forget it. (Wreck-It Ralph Clip) This joke is confused. The point is that the possibilities for more video game worlds know no end.
#1: Hugh Jackman
Top 10 Hugh Jackman Moments
Like Dwayne Johnson, Hugh Jackman was technically in “Free Guy,” although we doubt anybody recognized his voice as the masked avatar who gives Molotov Girl secret information. When we saw Dude’s massive abs, we thought it might be Jackman, but instead we got double the Reynolds. Not that we’re complaining! Still, it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that Jackman’s Wolverine and Reynolds’ Deadpool are going to make a buddy picture. Giving Jackman a key role in “Free Guy 2” would be the next best thing. We can easily picture Jackman as either the villain that Guy goes up against or an ally that he befriends. Guy and Jackman could even go into an “X-Men” beat ‘em up, giving us the crossover we’ve always wanted.
